Idles Quick Links

You wait around for a feral, untethered, vital, challenging and dynamic record to shock your senses and then two come along in the space of eighteen months, and both are by the same band. Idles released their debut album 'Brutalism' and drew a very positive reaction from those who appreciated its raw energy, its confrontational attitude and its unflinching observational dialogue.

After forming in 2012 in Bristol and releasing and handful of singles and E.P.s, last year's full album release marked a coming-of-age for a band who have admitted to not having a clue what they were doing to begin with. To hear their latest release and to see them perform live you'd have no doubt that the band have every clue what they are doing now, just how driven they are and just how totally authentic and engaging they are.

Idles latest album is inspired by many things but largely it takes its foundations from feelings of vulnerability, compassion, community, love and also about being honest with yourself. With his latest record lead singer Joe Talbot has learned to come to terms with his flaws, he says, "I am completely flawed, but so are you, and that's Ok. We are not alone". It is this philosophy and the people around him that have helped Joe through the most devastating family tragedy and it is through his band that he has been able to so eloquently express that.

It's turning out to be a great summer for music, and to think we've still got half the season left. We've already seen Years & Years' 'Palo Santo', Florence and the Machine's 'High as Hope', Gorillaz's 'The Now Now' and Christina Aguilera's 'Liberation' among others, but there's an exciting bunch more to come.

Here are just 7 of our most anticipated albums for the rest of the summer:

Post-punk quintet Idles are set to release their second studio album 'Joy as an Act of Resistance' later this Summer, and to celebrate the imminent project they have dropped a new video and announced their first ever world tour which includes their first headline London show.

Idles live 2018

The Bristol five-piece unveil their sophomore record just a year and a half following their full-length debut 'Brutalism'. They've just signed with Partisan Records, and are preparing to embark on a sprawling world tour entitled 'Tour Of Joy'.

Touted as an alternative to much that is wrong with the world, the antithesis of reality TV generated celebrity and the turgid, monotonous, boring and fake, Idles want to 'work hard' and give you an honest, no holds barred, heart on your sleeve, 'visceral' performance to make you sit up and listen. A cure for social media driven absurdity, an antivenom against mediocrity, a vaccine of truth and passion. Idles carry the spirit of Punk like flag barers for an alternative musical Olympics where enhanced performance through technical wizardry is definitely not to be tolerated. There's to be no lip synching or backing track sorcery just a true and honest, impassioned delivery.

With their Unity Tour selling out fast, and this gig selling out almost immediately, the band are a 'hot ticket' and this was certainly a very hot (ceiling dripping hot) night once the band had started up. Ramsgate Music Hall has been lucky, or savvy, enough to host some great acts in its modest venue and Idles were definitely a coup as it's very unlikely you'll catch them again in such intimate surroundings.

Once we'd been treated to a dose of Lice (support in the form of a foursome, consisting of a couple of hillbillies, one in full dungarees, a singer trying his best to look the part and a guitarist who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else) the night was set for the full tilt intensity of a band re-writing the Punk handbook. Idles were quite literally stupefying from the get-go. Their collective energy, electricity and snarly, feral, barely tempered menace was a thing of disturbing joy to behold.

Latitude Festival 2017 is nearly upon us! The line-up promises great sets from some great established names in the music business, with The 1975, Mumford & Sons and Fleet Foxes headlining and the likes of Fatboy Slim, Placebo, Two Door Cinema Club and Goldfrapp also on the bill.

However, Latitude does have an excellent reputation for boldness in selecting names that are a bit off the beaten track, and of promoting new talent to prestigious slots on the line-up.

So, here are ten recommendations of new and critically acclaimed acts off the beaten path to see at Latitude 2017!